Travel ban imposed on Sayeed Khokon, Shahriar Alam, ex-Shilpakala DG

A court on Monday imposed a travel ban on former mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mohammad Sayeed Khokon, former state minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar Alam, former director general (DG) of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Liaquat Ali Lucky, and many others over graft allegations. 

Acting judge of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court Md Ibrahim Miah passed the orders, allowing three separate pleas of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), BSS reports. 

ACC deputy director (money laundering) Md Masudur Rahman filed the plea for a travel ban on Mohammad Sayeed Khokon, his mother Shahana Hanif, his wife Farhana Sayeed and his brother Zaved Ahmed. 

The anti-graft body in its plea said unusual transactions were made through the bank accounts of the accused, while Sayeed Khokon is accused of being involved in different types of corruption. It has received information of amassing huge illegal wealth against Khokon by misusing his post and political power.

The ACC in its plea said the accused may flee the country to evade justice and a travel ban should be imposed on them to try them for their misdeeds.

Investigation Officer (IO) and ACC Deputy Director Md Salauddin filed the plea to place travel bans on Md Shahriar Alam, his wife Silvia Pervin and two sons Sadman Shahriar and Ahnaf Shahriar. Public prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam moved the petition before the court.

Shahriar and his family members are accused of amassing illegal wealth of crores through corruption and misusing power. The ACC learned the accused were trying to flee the country to evade justice and filed the plea to impose a travel ban on them.

Meanwhile, Liaquat Ali Lucky and 23 others were slapped with travel bans over their alleged roles in corruption in the recruitment of various positions at the academy.

ACC assistant director Mohammad Monirul Islam filed the plea, while its public prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam moved the petition before the court.

The other accused, who have been barred by the court from leaving the country, are: former director (administration) Jahangir Hossain Chowdhury, cultural officers Al Mamun, Md Hamidur Rahman, Begum Sudipta Chatterjee, Hasan Mahmud and Begum Laila Mahmud, assistant director (budget and planning) Begum Samira Ahmed, stage manager Begum Rahima Khatun, guide lecturer Md Mahabubur Rahman, instructor (music and equipment) Begum Minara Pervin, instructor (dance) Begum Priyanka Saha, musicians Narayan Dev Liton and Mohammad Ziaul Abedin, dancers Begum Laila Yasmin, Begum Miftahul Binte Mashuk, Begum Alka Das Prapti and Begum Sumaia Tabassum Khanom, vocalists Begum Roksana Akter Rupsha, Abdullahel Ruffy Talukder, Md Sohanur Rahman, Begum Abida Rahman Setu and Begum Mohona Das and cameraperson Md Rubel Miah.

The anti-graft body on October 6 filed a case against the 24 accused.